Nationwide federal government health insurance program for persons age 65 years and older, people with certain disabilities, and people of all ages with end-stage renal disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or kidney transplant). This program is administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, formerly known as the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) . Local Social Security offices take applications and supply information about the program. This fee-for-service health plan lets the patient go to any physician, hospital, or other health care supplier who accepts Medicare and is accepting new Medicare patients. The patient pays the deductible. Medicare pays its share of the Medicare-approved amount, and the patient pays his or her share (coinsurance). The Original Medicare Plan has two parts: Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). Also called Original Medicare Plan or Medicare fee-for-service plan .